The Bond that Saves Us

Brian’s fingers combed through his hair, a half smoked cigarette poking out of his mouth, completely ignored. His fingers tightened, tugging on his hair a few times before unclenching them, instead choosing to brush them through his silky locks instead.

He hadn’t meant for it to happen but now that he found himself outside the club, nerves twisted his stomach as he battled with the two choices presented to him. He could go back in the club and confront Michelle and either try to salvage their relationship, or tell her to take a hike. But there was another option that sounded more appealing. He could just leave and call Matt; he knew that even though it was three in the morning, his best friend would answer the phone.

Brian pulled out his cell, with shaky hands he hit speed dial and waited the few seconds it took for his friend to answer.

“Lo?” Hearing Matt’s gruff voice on the other end of the line was Brian’s breaking point. Tears stung his eyes. Brian pulled the hood over his face to make sure no one would recognize him; there were only two other people on the street across from him but the last thing Brian needed was a scandal in the papers.

Brian threw his burnt out cigarette on the ground and plopped down on the bench.

“I need a place to stay tonight.” Brian began, he knew he didn’t even have to ask, he had a key to Matt’s house but right now he needed to talk things out.

“What happened B?” Matt sounded more awake than he had a second before; Brian heard the quiet ruffling sound of sheets on the other side.

“I caught her.” All of the sudden what previously felt like the urge to talk to his best friend disappeared as warm tears finally cascaded down his cheek. Brian sniffled quietly, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, his eyeliner smudging across his cheek.

“Do you need me to come get you?” Brian heard more muffled sounds on the other end, knowing that Matt was getting dressed even as he asked.

“I’m good, I drove to the club.” Brian let out a shaky sigh and sniffled once more.

“I didn’t ask if you had a way here, I asked if you needed me to come get you.” Brian stood and tried to compose himself a little bit.

“I can drive-”

“Bullshit, where are you?” Matt cut him off, keys jangled in the background as a door opened and closed.

“I don’t want to leave my car at the club.” A light drizzle softly pattered against Brian’s hands as a cold blast of wind nipped at his skin.

“I’ll meet you wherever you are.” Brian gave Matt the name of the club ‘Treacherous Desires’ “Ge in your car and keep warm. It’s cold out tonight.”

When Matt showed up Brian had his heater on full-blast and his seat laid back, he hadn’t realized he’d dozed off. The knock on his window startled him but when he realized it was his best friend he unlocked the doors. Matt climbed in the passenger seat, shivering from the chilly wind that followed him into the car.

“It’s freezing balls out there.” Matt ripped off his wet gloves and held his hands up the heater. Brian looked out the window only to realize that the rain had gotten heaver as he’d slept.

“You didn’t have to come.” Matt shot an incredulous look his way, Brian shrugged knowing it was no use arguing with his best friend.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, Matt warming up and Brian enjoying the comforting silence between them.
“How about we get home before this storm gets even worse yeah?” With his head rested against his seat Brian turned his gaze to his best friend, thought about it for a second and nodded.

Seconds after Matt got out of the car hail started to beat down on Brian’s window. Not being able to see where his best friend had gone Brian slowly pulled out of his parking space. Looking all over the dark lot Brian squinted to see through the hail. The icy balls got bigger as the seconds ticked on and Brian began to worry.

Looking down a few more lanes Brian finally saw Matt make a break for his car; he’d been hiding under the ledge of a bus bench. Brian drove just behind him to make sure Matt could jump into his car if the hail got any worse.

Just outside his own car Matt’s feet slipped right out from under him. Brian put his car in park and jumped out, skidding on the hail as he made his way to his friend.

“You okay?” Brian shouted over the hail, Matt nodded and Brian held his hand out for Matt. While trying to help his friend up Matt’s footing skidded out from under him as he tried to get up, pulling Brian down right next to him.

Matt was the first to break out in laughter, Brian saw his best friends dimpled smile, it was infectious because the next second he found himself grinning and laughing like a lunatic. They stayed on the ground covering their faces from the hail until the laughter died down. It took nearly five minutes just for both of them to get off the ground due to the amount of hail under their feet.

Once they were both in their respective cars and on their way to Matt’s house, Brian finally let out a harsh breath. The stress that had plagued him minutes before was gone, now all he wanted was a warm bed and some sleep.

As Brian pulled up in front of Matt’s house he realized that he hadn’t packed a bag and that mean not having any of his own clothes for the night. He debated on heading over to his place but decided against it, the hail had turned into a full on down pour or rain. Lightning was flashing in the sky ever twenty seconds or so and the thunder wasn’t far behind it. He could just borrow Matt’s clothes for the night, or sleep in his underwear.

Matt opened the garage and pulled in; Brian parked behind him in the driveway. Once he shut his car off, Brian made a break for the garage.

Matt unlocked the door attached to the laundry room and closed the garage door. They quietly shuffled inside. Matt immediately shrugged off his sopping wet coat and tossed it over the back of the couch, his shirt soon followed. Brian couldn’t help but look at the tattoos that adjourned his best friend’s chest and abdomen. He could stare at a tattoo for hours and debate the symbolism behind it. He didn’t have to when it came to Matt; he knew what every bit of ink on his best friends skin stood for.

“Get out of those clothes before you get sick.” Matt started to unbutton his pants and pulled his zipper down as he walked out of the room.

Brian knew that if he didn’t comply Matt would nag at him when he returned. Brian quickly peeled the soaking shirt away from his belly, rolling it as he pulled it upward and over his head. A shiver wracked his body. Matt returned in a pair of pajamas, he had clothes in his hand and a towel wrapped around his shoulders. He walked behind Brian as the guitarist struggled to pull his legs out of the denim not wanting to part with his skin. Matt draped a towel over Brian’s damp shoulders when Brian finally got loose from the constricting fabric.

“Thanks,” Brian shivered as he used the towel to dry his limbs. He ran the towel through his hair, messing it up even more. When he finally pulled the towel off his head Matt chuckled at him. He had a look on his face that Brian could only take as amusement. “What?”

“Nothing,” Matt shook his head and tossed his best friend the clothes he’d brought him. Brian rolled his eyes at the singer and made his way toward the guest room. “Aww now here I thought I’d get a peep show.”

Brian couldn’t help but scrunch his nose at his best friend with a glare. He made sure to sway his hips a little bit more than he usually would just to dick around with his buddy as he walked the rest of the way into the room. He poked his head back out for a second and in a very girly voice he spoke, “If you want this honey you’re going to have to pay for it. I’m a classy girl.”

“Have you ever thought about trying drag? You’d make a very pretty lady, and with those dick-sucking lips,” Matt jokingly groaned with the biggest smile on his face.

“Dick.” Brian replied as he finally disappeared into the guest room to get dressed. It felt kind of weird to be putting on his best friends boxers but the rain had soaked through all of his clothes. He didn’t really have a choice unless he wanted to free-ball it, the idea had never sounded particularly appealing to Brian any time he’d flirted with it.

“Do you want to just go to sleep or pop in a movie?” Matt poked his head around the corner. Brian had his wet boxers in his hand; Matt held out his hand for them and disappeared again when Brian passed them over.

“Both?” Brian raised his voice so Matt could hear him in the laundry room.

“Pick one!” Brian made his way out of the guest bedroom and into the living room. He searched through Matt’s extensive movie collection until he found what one that sounded good.

Normally he would have turned the movie on in the living room but since he planned on falling asleep a few minutes into the movie, Brian took it into Matt’s room. He put the movie into the movie player and climbed onto the bed. He found the remote on the nightstand and turned on the TV, making sure to turn it down so he could barely hear it.

By the time Matt made it into the room Brian was already asleep. He smiled at his best friend, happy that he felt comfortable enough in his house to fall asleep. He’d been surprised to find Brian in his bed but Matt knew his best friend wasn’t used to sleeping alone. Matt pulled the covers down; Brian protested and rolled over onto his back when he had to move. With the blankets over them both Matt rolled over to face the wall. He fell asleep in seconds.

Brian groaned as rolled onto his back and stretched with his arms above his head, his toes pointed downward. Warmth seeped into his skin from his left side; it only took him a few seconds to realize where he was. Matt’s back was pressed up against his side where his own back had just been, a light snoring sound signaling that his best friend still slumbered.

Brian sat up slowly and wiped sleep from his eyes. He padded into the living room, wincing as his bare feet hit the cold wood. He didn’t realize that anyone was in the house until he walked into the kitchen to see Matt’s mother sitting at the island bar next to her grandson, a cup of coffee in her hand.

“Good morning Brian.” Mrs. Sanders sent a smile his way over her cup.

“Morning,” Brian walked over and pecked her on the cheek. He walked around her and grabbed the little boy in his arms and pulled him to his chest.

“How are you doing today buddy?” Brian asked turning the two year old to face him, blowing raspberries on his cheek. The baby laughed and squirmed in his old, Brian kissed his forehead and sat him back down.

“Why didn’t you wake us up mom?” Brian asked knowing that Mrs. Sanders had insisted on him calling her mom, preferring it.

“You two looked happy in your slumber.” Brian raised his brow at her accusation. “You’ll be another great dad for Kade.”

“Oh,” Finally realizing what she was implying Brian shook her head. “We’re not like that.”

She smiled; a twinkle in her eye told Brian that she didn’t believe a word that he’d said.

“Honestly, we’re not. I’ve never had those types of thoughts about your son, not one in my life.” Brian shook his head, eyes wide. He’d never classified himself under one certain sexuality, as far as he knew he was strait, he’d never really had lasting attraction to men. Not saying that he’d never thought about it before, of course he was curious but he’d never tried anything that proved him anything other than strait.

“Okay,” It was one simple word to end the conversation but Brian knew that she thought he was bullshitting her.

“Good morning mom,” Matt walked up behind Brian, startling him. He hugged his mom and made a b-line for the baby. He picked Kade up, an adoring smile on his face when the little boy tried to shove a piece of cereal in his mouth. “Did you have a good visit with grandma?”

Matt had spoken to the baby but he was looking at his mother as he spoke.

“Of course he did. He was as sweet as pie the whole time.” She stood from her stool, emptied her cup in the sink and gave each of them one last hug. “It’s nearly nine; I have a doctor’s appointment at ten so I must be off.”

“Everything okay mom?” Both men looked at her with curiosity and worry written across their faces. Matt unconsciously cuddled Kade closer to his chest.

“Oh I’m fine; there’s no need for you boys to worry about me. Just some routine checks. You know the older you get the more they poke and prod you.” She gave everyone one more hug and kissed the baby's cheek before leaving with a smile on her face.

“In twenty seven years of my life I’ve only ever seen my mother go to the doctors when we literally made her go. She’s never seemed happy or willing to go.” Matt turned his head as he thought about his mother’s odd actions. Kade started to squirm and pulled at Matt’s ears, pulling his daddy’s attention to him. “Yes buddy?”

Kade grabbed a hold of Matt’s cheeks and kissed him on the nose with a giggle.
“I’m sure if something were wrong she’d have told us Matt.” Brian opened the fridge door and started rummaging around. He pulled out green onions, ham and eggs. Matt sat Kade on the counter, holding him in place as he watched Brian mix up the ingredients to make omelets.

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” Matt gave a sad smile to Kade as the little boy started to sing “A B C Dada.”

“Haven’t you already learned that I’m usually right?” Brian smirked, up at his friend while bent down to get a pan from the cupboard.

“Haven’t you learned that I will never agree to anything that will over-inflate that already over-sized head of yours?” Matt grinned back; Brian placed the pan on the stove and lit the burner.

“Haven’t you learned that my ‘head’ is very appealing?” Brian did a flirtatious brow raise, his smirk never leaving his face.

“Hah, haven’t you learned that I am immune to whatever it is that makes most women believe that bullshit?” Matt watched as Brian sprayed the pan with nonstick spray and proceeded to dump the whole bowl of eggs into the pan.

“Are not,” Brian stuck his tongue out at the singer.

“Am too,” Matt pretended to lunge at his best friend, his teeth clamping, all the while holding on to Kade to make sure he wouldn’t topple off the counter. Brian made an undignified sound and glared at his best friend, instead choosing to focus on cooking the eggs as he pouted.

Notes

I am yet again starting another story. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think, what you assume will happen next and where you think I should take this story. Let me know what kinds of curve balls you think I might throw at you guys this time.